Leaders and activists of the BNP joined in large numbers at a prescheduled protest and solidarity procession against Israeli atrocities in Gaza in the capital’s Nayapaltan area Thursday.
The procession began at around 4:45pm and, passing through Kakrail, Malibagh, Mouchak and Moghbazar intersections, ended at Karwan Bazar.
At a rally before the procession, BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas said: "This protest march has become unusually large compared to any other gathering. Along with the BNP, religious leaders have also participated in it."
What is happening in Palestine is not just destruction, it is a conspiracy to wipe out the world's Muslim population, said Mirza Abbas. He opined that if the Muslim world had been united, Jews would not have been able to show such audacity.
Earlier, BNP leaders and activists started gathering in Nayapaltan with Palestinian flags and placards in their hands.
They were also chanting slogans against the atrocities in Gaza.
Mirza Abbas mentioned that it is intolerable to see pictures of the violence in Palestine on social media. He said: “Had Ziaur Rahman been alive today, he would have taken effective measures in support of Palestine, just as he played a role during the Iraq-Iran war. Israel would not have dared to engage in such violence.”
BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin Ahmed said: “Genocide started in Palestine long ago with the direct and indirect support of some of the world’s superpowers. Today, the Palestinian people are refugees in their own country. However, the leaders of the Muslim world are not playing any effective role.”
A global movement is underway to stop the genocide in Gaza, but no effective initiatives are being seen, Salahuddin Ahmed said.
He said, "We, on behalf of the BNP, are protesting against this brutality and strongly demand an end to the genocide."
Salahuddin alleged that the Awami League had indirectly recognized Israel and, along with oppressing the opposition, had purchased wiretapping devices from the country.
Another member of the BNP Standing Committee, Nazrul Islam Khan, said those who are
creating chaos in the country are indirectly backing Israel and they must be handed over to the police.
BNP Standing Committee Member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy said: "Brutal killings have been going on in Palestine for ages. No man or woman is spared there. This is a direct crime against humanity.”
The BNP held similar programs in different parts of the country on Thursday.
The party said that its leaders and activists were instructed to end the rally peacefully.